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Equal Justice Remains Elusive for Kidney Patients. Congress Can Help.

2024-03-29T01:09:21+00:00October 4th, 2022|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

Four simple words sit above the entrance to the Supreme Court: “Equal Justice Under Law.” That short phrase, though, carries immense weight. It is a promise to the American people that we will receive fair treatment in our justice system, and serves as a principle to guide people in power. For dialysis patients – who already face massive health disparities – it’s a promise that might go unfulfilled following a Supreme Court decision earlier this year that could open the door for health insurance companies to discriminate against them. In Marietta Memorial Hospital Employee Health Benefit Plan v. DaVita Inc., the Court ruled [...]

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DPC Engaging State Policy Makers During Summer Months

2024-03-29T01:09:21+00:00September 20th, 2022|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, Promote Financial Security|

While most state legislatures are adjourned during the summer months, DPC’s state advocacy program, under the leadership of Eastern Advocacy Director Elizabeth Lively, is focused on keeping the dialog moving with state legislative policy makers. The critically important issue of affordable access to Medigap coverage for under age 65 individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) remains under discussion in a number of states during the summer months. Kentucky DPC is meeting with our legislative champions, the health plans and our coalition partners to prepare for the 2023 re-introduction of comprehensive Medigap legislation that was debated in 2022 (HB 430). [...]

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Kidney patients need Congress’ help

2024-03-29T01:09:21+00:00September 9th, 2022|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Stories in the News|

I know we can count on Congressman Carlos Giménez to support this important legislation. I’ve dealt with health issues my entire life. I was born with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which has caused me to have multiple organ transplant surgeries and receive life-saving dialysis treatments. And, in addition to a successful liver transplant, I’ve had two kidney transplants that my body rejected, and I am now on a waitlist to receive a third kidney. In between these surgeries, I receive dialysis treatment, allowing my body to function properly and live my life. On top of the dreaded feeling of high patient volume at my [...]

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Congress needs to protect kidney patients following Supreme Court decision

2024-03-29T01:09:21+00:00August 28th, 2022|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

I recently joined other dialysis patients in meetings with Congress to discuss the challenges we face. One of the key topics we covered was how hard it is for patients to get access to the benefits and coverage we need just to survive. Those challenges are about to get much bigger for many patients after a recent Supreme Court decision. The decision could limit benefits and make it easier for private insurers to move patients off their employer-sponsored coverage and onto Medicare before the traditional 30-month point after they are diagnosed, limiting patients’ access to benefits Medicare doesn’t cover for [...]

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Dialysis patients need expanded coverage for leftover costs

2024-03-29T01:09:22+00:00August 21st, 2022|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Stories in the News|

In 2017, I had a below-knee leg amputation, during which it was discovered my kidneys had deteriorated. These health crises forced me to undergo physical rehabilitation and begin dialysis treatments for my kidneys. While receiving dialysis, I started writing my book on navigating midlife, which was a form of mental therapy. My book discusses my triumphs and trials as an amputee on dialysis. One of the struggles that I faced, and other kidney patients do as well, is covering the 20% of dialysis that Medicare doesn’t cover. Kidney patients under 65 don’t always have access to private insurance or Medigap [...]

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Dialysis patients counting on Congress

2024-03-29T01:09:22+00:00August 8th, 2022|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage, Spotlight|

It’s quite the experience being a kidney patient on dialysis. There’s always new information to monitor and communication to track between various medical providers, dialysis centers, and health insurance entities. It’s important for patients to educate themselves on kidney disease to best serve themselves and others who are on dialysis. One area of dialysis that can be hard to navigate is health care coverage. As both a dialysis patient and transplant recipient, I’ve been fortunate to have both employer-sponsored insurance and coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It’s essential that dialysis patients can remain on employer-sponsored insurance for 30 [...]

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Medigap bill can help kidney patients

2024-03-29T01:09:22+00:00August 7th, 2022|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Stories in the News, Spotlight|

When I started helping my dad after his kidney disease diagnosis, I thought it would be straightforward, taking him to the dialysis clinic and just generally caring for him. As I started learning more about the challenges kidney patients face, though, I remember looking around at all of the younger patients at his dialysis clinic and asking myself, “How on earth are they paying for this?” The answer for too many is that they can’t. In many states, Medicare only covers up to 80% of dialysis treatment, and Medigap plans to cover the remaining expense aren't accessible to patients under [...]

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Rhode Island Medigap Legislation Signed by Governor McKee

2024-03-29T01:09:22+00:00July 21st, 2022|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, State Advocacy|

On June 30,2022, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed into law H. 7244 and S. 2194, which provide guaranteed issue access to Medicare Supplement Insurance coverage – known as Medigap – for under age 65 residents with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and qualified disabled. The legislation becomes effective July 1, 2023. The new law also provides premium protections through the premium rate review process of the Office of the State Health Insurance Commissioner. While DPC is disappointed that this legislation limits access only to Medicare Supplement Plan A, we recognize this is a major step by Rhode Island that qualified [...]

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Legislation Offers Hope for Kidney Patients Struggling with Coverage

2024-03-29T01:09:23+00:00July 21st, 2022|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Stories in the News, Spotlight|

Kidney disease is a life-changing diagnosis for patients and their families. I experienced it first-hand as my husband went through dialysis and a kidney transplant, and I continue to see it every day working with kidney patients who are facing issues with treatments and cost. One of the most heartbreaking realities I see working with patients is that many are held back because they can’t get affordable coverage for the treatments they need to stay alive, since Medicare only covers part of the cost. That’s why we need Congress to pass the Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act. The bill [...]

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Dialysis Patients

2024-03-29T01:09:23+00:00July 19th, 2022|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Stories in the News|

Life with kidney disease while I was working in the United Arab Emirates was very different compared to what it is in the U.S. I had to receive all of my treatments in the hospital, and because the coverage options available weren’t the same as they are here, I had to pay for my treatments out of pocket. I felt I could get better options moving back to the U.S., but it was still remarkably expensive. Because Medicare only covers 80% of the cost of treatment, I needed to buy additional coverage to help pay for the rest until I [...]

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